Double Chocolate Diamonds Food

KATHLEEN KING'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream the butter and sugars. Add the egg and vanilla and mix together. Add the flour mixture and continue mixing until just combined.
• Add the chocolates and almonds and mix until combined. Using two tablespoons or a small ice cream scoop, drop the dough two inches apart on sheet pans lined with parchment. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Cool the cookies on the cookie sheets. The cookies should be very soft when they are removed from the oven. They will firm up as they cool.

CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a stand mixer, combine the butter, sugar and 1/3 of the vanilla bean's seeds. Divide the mixture in half and remove one half from the mixing bowl. To the remaining half, add the cocoa powder, scant 3 cups of the cake flour and another 1/3 of the vanilla bean's seeds while mixer is on. Mix and remove from the bowl. Place the other half back in the mixing bowl and add the remaining 3 cups cake flour, the remaining 1/3 vanilla bean's seeds and the cinnamon. Place both doughs in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Remove the 2 doughs from the refrigerator. It may be necessary to beat the dough with a rolling pin to soften the butter and make the dough more pliable. Roll the chocolate dough into a rope about 3/4-inch in diameter. Roll the white dough about 2 inches in diameter and the same length as the chocolate rope. Trim one side of the dough to create a straight edge. Using a pastry brush, spread a little water on top of the white dough. The moisture will help the dough stick together. Place the chocolate rope on top and roll the white dough around it. Trim a straight edge where the doughs meet. Close the seam with a little more water. If the dough is too soft, place in the refrigerator or freezer until firm.
• Barely wet the surface of the rolled dough and roll it in granulated sugar. Using a sharp chef's knife, make 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices on a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 teaspoon butter. Cut a piece of parchment paper in a strip to line the bottom and 2 sides of the dish. Butter the paper with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon butter and set aside.
• Place the unsweetened chocolate and 8 tablespoons butter in a medium heat-proof bowl that fits comfortably over a saucepan filled with 1 inch water. Place the double-boiler over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula, until the chocolate and butter are just barely melted. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue to stir for 1 minute to cool slightly. The mixture should be warm to the touch, not hot.
• Using a hand-held mixer, beat the sugar, vanilla and salt into the chocolate mixture until smooth. Add the eggs and yolk all at once and beat until fully incorporated and smooth. Fold in the flour and semisweet chocolate chips with a silicone spatula until just barely combined; a few streaks are fine. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake on the middle rack until just set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Do not overbake. Allow to cool to room temperature before cutting into 16 small pieces.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor or crush in a resealable plastic bag until they are fine crumbs. Add the crumbs to a bowl and stir in the melted butter and sugar. Press the mixture into a pie pan and bake until set, about 4 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• For the filling: Stir together the cornstarch, sugar and salt in a large saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the milk and beaten egg yolks. Cook, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate, butter and vanilla. Pour the chocolate filling into the cooled shell until it's filled to the brim. (You may have some left over.) Smooth the top of the pie, then gently press a piece of wax paper over the filling and chill until set, 3 to 4 hours. Store any leftover filling covered in the fridge for another use or snacking.
• For the meringue: Add the sugar, corn syrup, 2 tablespoons water and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved completely. Remove from the heat.
• Add the egg whites to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat the egg whites on medium speed until frothy, about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar and the remaining pinch salt and continue beating for 30 seconds. With the machine running on medium speed, drizzle the hot syrup mixture into the mixing bowl in a constant stream, then turn the speed to high and whip until the mixture forms stiff peaks (about 3 minutes).
• Remove the chilled pie from the fridge and discard the wax paper. Spread the meringue over the top of the chilled pie, making sure to get it to the edges. With the back of a spoon, lightly press into the meringue, lifting the spoon away, to create peaks. Toast the meringue with a brulee torch to the desired color. Slice and serve.